ABC7 Top Scholar: Katherine Liu

LOS ALTOS, Calif. (KGO) -- STEM education focuses on the importance of science, technology engineering and mathematics. Eighteen-year-old Katherine Liu considers herself a "steminist."

The recent Los Altos High School grad has mastered the science of blending her love for engineering, technology and design through digital art.

"I do enjoy the logical side of things like computer algorithms and things like that but what I really, really like about computer science is the power it has to really make different forms of art," Katherine said.

She plans to do just that at Stanford University in the fall, studying computer science with an emphasis on design.

"Since art has always been a big part of my life I was just looking at how can I use art to be to integrate that with computer science and kind of design a major in the future, that really fits me, Katherine said.

Katherine's pursuit of higher education in the South Bay will also keep her close to the Quark Initiative, a project she started with the high school's Women in Science club creating online story books to get kids excited about science.

"We wanted to make these books more fun for students who are approaching science at very young ages," Katherine said. "It also shows them that science can be interesting, fun and artistic."

Katherine's outstanding grades, campus leadership and community volunteerism made it no surprise to her family and friends that ABC7 selected her as one of our seven Top Scholars this year.

"She is one of the most talented students that I've ever met, yet she's by far one of the most humble," college and career center coordinator Dawn Allen said.

"I'm really, really honored and excited, mostly because there are so many other people who are really, really awesome and deserving of this award too," Katherine said.

This is the ninth year for ABC7's Top Scholars program, where ABC7 gives recognition to seven outstanding students, each of whom receives a $1,000 scholarship toward his or her college education. Watch Sunday, July 6 at 10 a.m. to learn more about all of our Top Scholars!